Written question asked by Gwyn Prosser (Labour) on Monday, 27 April 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 11 May 1998. It was answered by Glenda Jackson (Labour) on Monday, 11 May 1998 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what the minimum manning requirements were for the vessel `Rema'; and if the ship complied with these on the date of her loss.

Answer: Mr. Prosser: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the minimum manning requirements were for the vessel Rema; and if the ship complied with these on the date of her loss. [40352] Ms Glenda Jackson: The minimum manning requirement for the vessel REMA, being registered in Belize, is as stipulated by the International Merchant Marine Register of Belize in the vessel's Minimum Safe Manning Certificate. When the vessel was inspected in Montrose in February 1998, the minimum safe manning required by Belize was four and it was noted that there was no Engineer Officer aboard. When this was queried, Belize responded by producing a Minimum Safe Manning Certificate for seven, including an Engineer officer, but the ship had life-saving appliances and accommodation for only five. As this was approximately the manning that could be reasonably expected on a vessel of this size and type, the REMA was released from detention with a crew of five, including an Engineer Officer, on the condition that the discrepancy between the Safe Manning Document and life saving appliance was rectified, by Belize, before departure from the next port after release from detention. Once again we cannot say if there were five aboard the vessel at the time of her loss.

Secondary information